Hay roll forming machine

ABSTRACT

A machine to form compact rolls of hay of substantial size by picking up a swath or windrow of hay and the like from a field, engage it by cooperating upper and lower endless flexible aprons driven in suitable directions to coil the hay into a compact roll while supported upon floor means mounted stationarily in the bottom of the machine to effect baling of all the hay without loss upon the ground. As the roll type bale of hay increases in diameter, the upper apron engages the upper portion thereof and applies constant unit pressure thereon to produce substantially uniform density throughout the roll regardless of diameter thereof. Tension spring means are used to produce the pressure applied to the roll by the upper apron to effect such constant unit pressure upon the roll.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For many years, it has been customary to harvest forage crops, such asvarious kinds of hay and leaf-type forage plants by mowing the same in afield, letting them lie for several days to dry, forming the cut and atleast partially dryed crop into windrows, and passing a hay-balingmachine over and along such windrows to form the crop into rectangularbales which are secured by passing one or more tying strands around thebale. The bales then are picked up by various means and are taken to abarn or similar building in which piles of such bales are stored untilused. In recent years, it has been found that if hay and similar foragecrops are formed into a large, compact roll by various types ofmachines, the cylindrical formation of the roll tends to provideself-shedding of rain and other inclement weather substances if the rollis left lying in a field or feed lot where cattle and other herbivorousanimals may feed upon it, without requiring the roll to be taken to astorage shed.

Large rolls of forage crops of the type described frequently are of theorder of 4 or 5 feet in diameter and 6 or 8 feet long. Rolls of thissize may weigh as much as over a ton. If they are to be moved, followingthe formation thereof, special types of equipment must be used. Thepresent invention is concerned with the formation of compact rolls offorage material, such as hay, and the details thereof are set forthhereinafter.

Forming compact, large rolls of hay has engaged the attention of variousinventors heretofore. Several different principles have been utilized inthe inventions thus produced. One type forms a roll or coil of hay andthe like by initiating the formation of such roll by suitable mechanismand continue to roll a swath or windrow of the hay while supported uponthe ground. Examples of such mechanisms are shown in prior U.S. Pat. No.3,110,145, to Avery, dated Nov. 12, 1963. Another such machine comprisesthe subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,100, to Swan, dated Mar. 21,1972. One of the principle difficulties resulting from this method offorming rolls of hay is that a certain amount of the hay remains uponthe field without being included in the roll of hay, such as the fines.Further, dirt, clods of earth, stones and the like also can be picked upby the roll and this is undesirable under certain circumstances.

A second principle method of forming rolls of the type referred tocomprises a machine in which a swath or windrow of the crop is picked upfrom the field and directed onto a supporting conveyor or the like whilethe same is formed into a coil or roll of the forage crop and is out ofcontact with the ground, thus resulting in the formation of a cleanertype of roll or coil of hay, as well as the same including most if notall of the fines of the crop, thus minimizing waste. One example of aprior machine for forming a coil or roll of hay is illustrated in U.S.Pat. No. 3,665,690, to Wenger, dated May 30, 1972. The particular designof the of the machine shown in said patent offers a certain amount offriction between the roll and the supporting frame of the machine, whichis undesirable, and another undesirable feature is that the coil of hayis formed upon a core member rather than being a free-form of roll whichhas no core or mandrel. The foregoing objectionable features areobviated in the design of machine comprising the present invention and asubstantial number of improvements in the art of forming large sizes ofcompact rolls of hay and other forage crops are provided in saidmachine, details of which are described hereinafter.

An even more recent U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,197 to Vermeer, issued Mar. 27,1973, discloses a machine to form crop material into coiled rolls byemploying a lower belt conveyor comprising a series of belts oftextile-type material spaced transversely apart between opposite sidesof the machine. An upper set of belts which also are spaced apartbetween opposite sides of the machine are supported for arrangementbetween an initial contracted configuration and an expanded operativeposition, the belts in the expanded position extending around the upperportion of the roll of crop material, and hydraulic means exertpredetermined, fixed pressure upon said belts at all times whileexpanding. Therefore, such pressure does not increase as the size of theroll increases, but remains constant, whereby as the circumference ofthe roll increases, the unit pressure, areawise, exerted upon the rolldecreases and results in less density in the outer portions of the finalroll of product and it is in regard to this feature in particular thatthe present invention is an improvement as described hereinafter. Also,the belts of both kinds of said patent structure stretch during use andrequire tightening from time to time. Further, the belts run in the samedirections as that in which the roll rotates and thus do not provide asmuch frictional engagement with the roll as other means would afford toprevent slippage between the belts and the roll.

The present invention comprises a portion of an entire roll-formingmachine of which various sections and parts were invented by variousinventors, including the inventor who developed the instant portion ofthe entire machine, and comprising the subject matter of additionalrelated applications covering such features and assigned to the assigneeof the present invention. In order to provide a complete understandingof the entire machine, or at least the major portion in which thepresent invention is included, a description of a substantial portion ofthe entire machine is set forth hereinafter but in which the presentinvention is described in particular.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the principle object of the present invention to provide a machinefor forming a compact roll of hay or similar forage crop of substantialdiameter and length by providing means to pick up a swath or windrow ofsuch crop by suitable means and feed it to a space between a flexible,endless lower apron movable relative to a bottom panel or floor, fixedlysupported in the lower portion of the machine, and the lower course ofan upper flexible apron in a manner to initiate the formation of a coilof said forage crop and continue to coil the same by rearward movementof the upper course of the lower apron and forward movement of the lowercourse of the upper apron, the upper apron being supported by an upperframe upon which it is guided around a series of rotatable idlers insuch manner that the upper course of the upper apron is contracted intoa circuitously disposed condition, initially, at least partially withinthe space in the machine within which the roll of hay or other cropgradually expands in size, and the machine also very importantlyincludes pressure control means which causes the upper apron to exert asubstantially constant unit pressure upon the upper portion of the rollof hay or crop being formed while the same increases in diameter andduring which expansion of the roll, the lower course of the uppr apronextends and expands around the upper surface of the roll being formed,such expansion occuring against the action of take-up mechanism which isacted upon by said spring means in a manner to effect said uniform,constant unit pressure upon the roll.

It is another object of the invention to provide said pressure controlmeans for the upper apron in the form of relatively powerful tensionsprings at least one of said springs being mounted at each side of themachine, and as said size of the roll expands and the upper apron isextended around the upper portion thereof, said springs are extended andincrease the force exerted thereby progressively upon the extendingapron.

It is still another object of the invention, ancillary to the foregoingobject, to support said rotatable idlers upon oppositely extending armswhich are similar at opposite sides of the machine and are supported forrotation upon a preferably fixed axis as the size of a roll of cropmaterial expands in size to permit the upper apron to expand from itsinitially contracted condition and extend around the upper portion ofsaid roll, such rotation of said arms being resisted by saidaforementioned spring means.

It is a further object of the invention to connect one end of each ofsaid aforementioned springs to brackets carried by said upper frame ofthe machine, and the opposite ends of said springs are connected tocables which extend around cam means which are connected to said abovementioned rotatable arms which, when rotated incident to expansion ofsaid upper apron, cause said cam means to rotate in a direction toextend said springs and therefore increase the force exerted therebyupon said upper apron and, correspondingly, increasingly upon theincreasing peripheral area of the roll of crop material but the size andstrength of said springs being selected to provide substantiallyconstant unit pressure, areawise, upon the roll and thus providesubstantially uniform density throughout the roll.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention, as well as otherobjects thereof, are setforth in the following specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising apart thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a hay roll forming machine embodying theprinciples of the present invention and showing the various partsthereof in the position thereof for starting the formation of a hayroll, the upper apron being illustrated in compact or contractedposition.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the parts of the machinepositioned substantially at the conclusion of forming a maximum size ofhay roll.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the machine with the parts thereofillustrated in discharge position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end view of a portion of the machine as seen onthe line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the portion of the machineshown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation showing, on a scale larger thanin the preceding figures, portions of the drive mechanism and controlmeans incorporated therewith.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view taken in the direction ofarrows 7 on FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the machine illustrated therein comprises a baseframe 10 which has similar side arrangements of structural membersfixedly connected together, such as by welding or the like. Each side ofsaid frame comprises a bottom horizontal member 12. The forward endthereof is connected to a vertical member 14 of substantial height.Also, extending perpendicularly to the junction of members 12 and 14 isa cross member 16, the adjacent end of which is fixedly connected to thejunction of members 12 and 14. A short frame member 18 extends upwardlyfrom the rearward portion of bottom member 12 and the upper end thereofis connected to one end of an upwardly and forwardly extending angularbrace member 20 which is connected at it's upper end to the upper end ofvertical member 14. Extending forwardly from the front face of member 14at each side of the machine is an A-frame consisting of angularlyrelated members 22 and 24, the rearward ends of which are fixed to thefront face of vertical member 14 and the forward ends thereof areconnected together and also are attached to polygonal plates 26, saidplates also being fixed to and covering the outer ends of a horizontalcross member 28. The various frame members thus far described, whichcomprise the base frame 10, may be formed from heavy structural tubing,channels, or any other appropriate structural form commonly employed inframing of the type described.

An auxiliary or upper frame 30 also is provided which consists of sideframes composed of a straight frame member 52, the ends of which areconnected to the opposite ends of an arcuate frame member 34. Theuppermost portion of each side frame member is pivotally connected at 36to a suitable bearing fixed to the upper end of vertical frame member 14of the base frame, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1-3. A suitable cross framemember 38 also extends between the upper ends of angular brace members20 of frame 10 and thereby stabilizes the connection of the upper frame30 at opposite sides thereof by the pivotal connections 36 to theuppermost end of the base frame 10. The upper end of base frame 10 alsoif surther stablized transversely by means of another cross tube 40, orsimilar horizontal bracing member which extends between bearing brackets42 which are connected to the front faces of the vertical frame members14 such as by welding.

The lower rearward end of upper frame 30, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2,also has a cross frame member 44 extending between the opposite sideframe means compsoed of members 32 and 34.

Upper frame 30 is moved between it's lower, operative position such asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and its extended, or discharge position, asshown in FIG. 3, by means of a pair of hydraulic cylinder and pistonunits 46, the opposite ends of which respectively are connected to themembers 22 and 32 of base frame 10 and upper frame 30, intermediately ofthe ends thereof, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. Suitable hydraulic lines, ofconventional type, not shown, are connected to opposite ends of thecylinder of each unit 46 and said units at opposite sides of the frameoperate simultaneously under all circumstances.

As will be seen from FIGS. 1-3, the base frame 10 has a pair ofconventional wheels 48 connected thereto at opposite sides of the frame,by any suitable axle means, not shown but of appropriate conventionaltype, in order that the hay roll forming machine comprising the presentinvention may be drawn by a tractor or other similar implement over afield for purposes of forming a roll of hay or similar forage material.Referring to FIG. 6, the forward end of the machine has an appropriategear box 50 interconnected to suitable transverse supporting means,including the cross member 28 for example. The gear box is driven by ashaft 52 which is connectable to the driven end of a power take-off(p.t.o.) provided on and extending rearwardly from a suitable tractorunit or equivalent power mechanism. A power output shaft 54 extends fromthe gear box 50 to one side of the machine as viewed in FIGS. 1-3 and 6.

Extending forwardly from the front end of base frame 10 is a pick-upheader unit 56 of a type adapted to engage, elevate and rearwardly feeda swath or windrow of forage material in at least semi-dried conditionfrom lying in a field. A fragmentary illustration of the forward portionof the header 56 is shown in FIG. 7. It comprises a drum having a seriesof transversely spaced, circular slots 58 therein, through which aseries of spring fingers, not shown, but of conventional agriculturalnature, extend for purposes of picking up a swath or windrow 60 of atleast semi-dried forage material, as shown in FIG. 6, for purposes ofmoving the same to the entrance end of the machine. Said spring fingersare driven by a shaft 62, in clockwise direction, by means to bedescribed, for purposes of elevating and feeding the material between apair of compressing rollers 64 and 66, for purposes of leveling andpreferably somewhat spreading transversely the swath or windrow whichpasses there between.

The flattened and somewhat spread material then passes to the entranceend of the lower apron which extends around driven roller 68, which issupported upon a shaft extending between bearings 69 respectivelymounted upon the members 24 at opposite sides of the base frame 10, asclearly shown in FIG. 6. The compressing rollers 64 and 66 also aresupported upon two transverse shafts, the opposite ends of whichrespectively are supported in suitable bearings which also are mountedupon the members 24 of the base frame at opposite sides of the machine,as best shown in FIG. 6.

The lower apron propelling means preferably comprises a series ofendless, flexible chains 70, link type, which are transversely spacedapart even distances and respectively extend around sprocket gears 72which are mounted upon shafts 74 at the forward end of the bottom orfloor 76 and circular guide surfaces at the rearward end thereof ontransverse supporting tube 83. The floor is fixedly connected to thebase frame 10 and is rendered rigid by a series of transverselyextending bars 78, the opposite ends of which are suitablyinterconnected to the bottom horizontal members 12 of base frame 10 forexample. The upper courses of the chains 70 preferably slide withinsuitable guide channels fixed to the upper surface of the bottom 76 andare sufficient to guide the chains accurately in spaced relationship.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it also will be seen that the alternatelinks of the chain 70 have what is termed aggressive lugs or blades 80connected thereto. In view of the fact that the upper courses of thechains 70 move in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 1, it willbe seen that the forward edge of the lugs or blades 80 extendssubstantially perpendicularly to the axis of the chain, and the upperedges of each lug or blade slopes rearward and downward. Sucharrangement not only facilitates rotary movement of a roll of hay or thelike in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1-3, but suchengagement of the perpendicular forward edges of the lugs or blades 80with the roll tends to dispose the stems and fibers of the foragematerial substantially circumferential, whereby there is a substantialtendency for the completed roll to shed rain and other inclement weathersubstances when lying in a field for example. Other details of thefunction of the lower apron and the discharge end of the bottom 76 aresetforth hereinafter.

The upper frame 30 and certain guide rolls and sprockets which augmentthe same support the upper apron 82, which is shown in outline form inFIGS. 1-3. Said apron preferably comprises a pair of endless, flexiblelink-type chains 84, fragmentary examples of which are shown in FIGS. 4and 15. At longitudinally spaced intervals of suitable dimension, suchas of the order of 8 or 10 inches, a series of bars 86 extend betweensaid chains for substantially the full width of the machine. Fragmentaryexamples of such bars are shown in FIG. 7. In cross section, the barsmay be square or any other suitable geometric shape, such ascylindrical, for purposes of offering resistance to bending of the bars,especially when engaging the periphery of a roll of hay 88, an exampleof which is shown in exemplary manner in FIG. 2. The upper apron 82 issupported upon various guide rolls and sprockets, and the edges of guidebars, as follows.

Referring to FIGs. 4 and 5 in particular, it will be seen that, adjacenteach side of upper frame 30, and spaced inwardly thereform, is anarcuate bar 90 which is appropriately connected to the arcuate framemember 34 at each side of the upper frame 30 by suitable brackets 92 and94 respectively fixed to members 34 and bars 90, and bolted together asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The opposite edges of the arcuate bars 90 arerounded to strengthen the same and also minimize wear. The outer edge 96is convex, and the inner edge 98 thereof is concave. Referring to FIGS.1-3, the arcuate bars 90 are not shown but it will be understood thatthe same conform generally to the shape of the arcuate frame members 34and the upper course of the chains 84 of upper apron 82 slideablyengages the convex edge 96 of each of the arcuate guide bars 90.

At each side of the upper frame 30, adjacent opposite ends thereof,suitable guide sprockets 100 and 102 respectively are supported byclevises which are connected to the opposite ends of the arcuate member34 at each side of the frame. Affixed to ends of shaft 104, which issupported in bearing brackets 42 adjacent the upper end of verticalframe members 14, are pairs of oppositely extending arms 106 and 108.Said arms respectively comprise take-up and expansion means for theupper apron 32 and operate as a pivoted supplemental frame. The ends ofsaid arms support rotatable guide sprockets 110 and 112 adjacent theopposite ends of the arms and the chains 84 of the upper apron 82 extendthere-around in the manner in FIGS. 1-3. Lastly, a driving sprocket 114is provided at each side of the main frame and connected to a drivenshaft 116 that is supported in appropriate bearings fixed relative tothe main frame 10. The chains 84 of the upper apron 82 also extendaround said driving sprockets. The lower course of the upper apron 82also slideably extends over the upper curved surface of movably mountedauxiliary guide members 118, details of which are best shown in FIGS.1-3, and are described hereinafter.

The pick-up header unit 56 is pivotally supported at its rearward endupon a shaft 120 which is rotatably supported at its opposite ends inbearings 122 connected to frame members 24 at opposite sides of themachine. The forward end of the pick-up header unit 56 is yieldablyrestrained against downward movement by a pair of springs 124respectively connected at one end to the cross member 28 of the frame ofthe machine and, at the other end, being connected to end plates on theheader 56 at opposite ends thereof. if desired, auxiliary wheels, notshown, may be rotatably mounted at opposite ends of the header unit 56for engagement with the ground.

Upper compression roll 64 is supported by a shaft 126, the opposite endsof which are rotatable in bearings formed in arms 128, best shown inFIG. 6, the rearward end of said arms being supported upon pivot shafts130 mounted in bearing brackets 132 which are fixed to vertical framemembers 14. The opposite ends of arms 128 respectively at the oppositesides of the machine have clevises 134 connected thereto and a rod 136extends upward from each clevis and is surrounded by a compressionspring 138 which extends between each clevis 134 and a bracket 140 whichis connected to a side plate 142 on each side of the machine.

DRIVE MECHANISM

As setforth above, power for the machine is derived from a p.t.o. of atractor or the like, which is connected to shaft 52. Power output shaft54 has a sprocket gear 144 connected to the outer end thereof as shownin FIGS. 6 and 7. Shaft 154 also extends beyond the outer end ofsprocket gear 144 and has a large multiple sheave 146 fixed thereto. Asprocket chain 148 extends around sprocket gear 144 which comprises adriving sprocket. Chain 148, which is driven by sprocket gear 144extends around idler sprocket gear 150 which is supported in a bearingon frame member 14. Chain 148 then extends around sprocket gear 152,another sprocket gear 154, and a further sprocket gear 156, from whichthe chain extends to the driving sprocket gear 144. Accordingly, all ofthe moving elements of the machine, with the exception of upper apron82, are driven by the sprocket chain 148.

Another sprocket gear 158, of smaller diameter than sprocket gear 152,is fixed to one end of pivot shaft 130 for support thereby and a drivensprocket gear 160 is fixed to sahft 126 of the upper compression roller64 to drive the same by means of a sprocket chain 162 which extendsaround the sprocket gears 158 and 160. The various vertical planeswithin which the paris of driving and driven sprocket gears are locatedare best illustrated in FIG. 7.

Sprocket gear 156 is a driving gear for the smaller sprocket gear 164which is connected to shaft 120 and is in the same plane as the largerdriven sprocket gear 166. Sprocket chain 168 extends around the gears164 and 166 and thereby effecting rotation of shaft 62 which drives thepickup fingers of the header unit 56 which operate within the circularslots 58 thereof.

The power output shaft 54 also supplies the power for driving the upperapron 32. This is accomplished by the multiple sheave 146 which isconnected to the outer end of shaft 54, as indicated above, and a drivenmultiple sheave 170. A series of V-belts 172 extend around the multiplesheaves 146 and 170 in a loose condition, whereby the same comprise partof what may be considered a clutch arrangement. Multiple belt-tighteningsheaves 174 are supported rotatably on the outer end of arm 176 which ispivoted at 178 to a bracket plate 180. A tension spring 182 is mountedin a manner to normally elevate the tightening sheaves 174 toinoperative position.

The important purpose of the present invention is to stop the movementof upper apron 82 when the upper frame 30 is moved to the elevated,discharge position thereof shown in FIG. 3. When this occurs, however,the lower apron comprising the chains 70 continues to move in adirection to expel the completed roll 88 of hay or the like from themachine. Such contined movement of the lower apron is effected by drivensprocket 154 which is connected to the outer end of the shaft whichsupports the sprocket gears 72 for the chains 70.

Operation of such clutch mechanism is effected by the position of thetightening sheaves 174 with respect to the belts 172. Movement of thearm 176 in a direction to cause the sheaves 182 to tighten the belts 172is effected by a cable 184, one end of which is fixed to eyelet 186 onthe forward end of lever 176 and the opposite end of the cable isconnected to a short arm 188 which projects outwardly from the framemember 32 of upper frame 30, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. If desired,a spring 190 of predetermined tension strength is connected between saidother end of cable 184 and the arm 188, as shown in FIG. 3.

By comparing FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be seen that in FIG. 1, the cable184 is under tension by reason of the position of arm 188 on upper frame30, whereby the tightening sheaves 174 are in tightening engagement withthe belts 172 and thereby cause driving of the driven sheaves 170 by thedriving sheaves 146, thus moving the upper apron 82 at a predeterminedspeed which, under preferred conditions, is slightly slower than thesurface speed of the chains 70 of the lower apron. By way of example, ithas been found that the difference of about 5 percent is highly useful,whereby there is a tendency for the slightly faster moving lower apronchains 70 to urge the roll toward the discharge end of the machine butthe position of the rearward end of the upper frame 30 and apron 82during the formation of the roll insures no possibility for the roll todischarge from the machine prematurely. As shown in FIG. 3, when theupper frame 30 is elevated to discharge position, the cable 184 goesslack and the spring 182 raises the tightening sheaves 174 to idleposition, thus stopping the movement of the upper apron 82.

UPPER APRON EXPANDING MECHANISM

Reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2 in which the starting and finalpositions of the upper apron 82 are illustrated to best advantage. Whena roll of hay or the like is first initiated, the swath or windrow 60 ofthe material is delivered to the forward end of the lower aproncomprising the chains 70. Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that theinitial position of the lower course of the upper apron 82 extends overthe auxiliary guide members 188 at opposite sides of the inner surfacesof the side plates 192 of the machine which extend between and are fixedto the vertical frame member 14, diagonal brace members 20, framemembers 18 and horizontal bottom members 12, as well as between theangularly disposed frame members 22 and 24.

There also are additional side plates 194 which extend across the majorportion of the space defined by the frame members 32 and 34 of upperframe 30. Such side plates 192 and 194 confine the opposite ends of theroll 88 of hay or the like while it is being formed. From FIG. 1, itwill be seen that the initial part of the roll of hay or the like whichis being formed, occurs in a wedge shaped space 196 which is narrower atthe forward end than the rearward end and is defined at the top by thelower straight course of the upper apron 82 between sprockets 114 andauxiliary guide members 118, and the upper course of the lower aproncomprising chains 70. The shape of this space greatly facilitates thecommencement of the rolling of the material, especially the narrowerentrance end of the space 196, such rolling of the material occuring byvirtue of the opposite directions in which the lower course of upperapron 82 and the chains 70 move as illustrated by direction arrows shownin FIG. 1. When this occurs, the upper apron 82 is in an N-shaped,compactly contracted position. In this position, it will be seen that asubstantial length of the apron which extends from sprockets 110, downand around sprockets 112 and up to sprockets 102 is disposed at leastsomewhat within the space ultimately occupied by the roll 88 of materialwhich is confined by the circular configuration of the lower course ofthe upper apron 82, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Movement of the upper apron 82 between the contracted, starting positionshown in FIG. 1 and the expanded, final position shown in FIG. 2 isunder direct influence of pressure control mechanism connected to theopposite ends of shaft 104 upon which ends the arms 106 and 108 arefixed, and this control mechanism comprises the principal feature ofnovelty of this particular invention which especially comprises animprovement over the structure comprising the subject matter of saidaforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,197 to Vermeer in which constantforce hydraulic means are employed to provide tension in the upperbelts, whereby as the belts are extended around a roll of increasingsize, the unit compressive force applied thereto progressively decreasesand uniform density of the roll is not possible. Such control mechanismcomprises a pair of similar cam plates 198 that respectively are fixedto the opposite ends of shaft 104 and extend radially therefrom. A cable200 is connected at one end to a pin 202 on the cam plates 198. Fromthere, the cable extends around a guide pulley 204 which is supported ona bracket arm 206 that is fixed to the upper end of vertical frame 14.

It will be understood that each of the members 14, at opposite sides ofthe machine, support a bracket arm 206 and guide pulley 204, as well asthere being a cable 200 at each side of the machine. The other end ofcable 200 is connected to one end of a very strong tension spring 208,the opposite end of said spring being anchored to a pin 210 on framemember 18 at each side of the machine. As the roll of crop materialincreases in diameter and the upper apron is caused to expand by suchincrease in diameter while the apron exerts compression forces upon suchroll continuously during its increase in size, the springs 208 will begradually extended and thus increase the tension force thereof. The sizeof the springs is selected so as to cause the lower course of upperapron 82 to exert substantially constant unit pressure, areawise, upon acoiled roll of hay or the like while it is increasing in size so thatsubstantially uniform density is produced in said roll throughout theentire roll.

The foregoing constant unit pressure on the roll results from the factthat the lower course of upper apron 82 which is between sprockets 114and guide members 118 will gradually be raised by the roll as itsdiameter increases, with the result that the lower course of said apronwill be lifted from the auxiliary guide members 118. As describedhereinafter, said auxiliary guide members will be retracted intoaccommodating spaces in the side plates of the machine so as not tointerfere with the movement of the ends of the roll 88 of hay and thelike which is being formed. Also, such upward movement of the lowercourse of the apron 88 will require an extension of the amount of suchlower course which is in engagement with the upper surface of the roll88 of material.

Such expansion in said lower course is provided by counter-clockwiserotation of the arms 106 and 108, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 but saidrotation is resisted by the springs 208 at opposite sides of the machineand this results in said springs extending said increasing force to agreater area of the upper apron which extends around an increasingcircumferential area of the upper portion of the roll to providesubstantially constant unit pressure upon said roll and the forcethereof progressively increasing with the application being applied tothe roll 88 to render it compact, but having substantially uniformdensity throughout.

Also, when the lower course of the upper apron 82 has reached itsmaximum expanded position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the chains of saidlower course will ride upon the concave edges of the arcuate guide bars90 respectively fixed to the arcuate frame members 34 of upper frame 30,whereby said lower course of the upper apron will in no way interferewith the movement of the upper course of said apron, as can be clearlyseen from FIG. 2 which is the position in which the upper and lowercourses thereof will approach each other most closely.

Due to the tension continuously exerted by the springs 208 upon the arms106 and 108 and especially upon the guide sprockets 110 and 112respectively carried thereby, engagement of the chains of the upperapron 82 with the various guide sprockets for the same will bemaintained at all times. Further, due to the fact that the chains atopposite sides of the upper apron 82 will mesh with the drivingsprockets 114 respectively fixed to the opposite ends of shaft 116,there will be no tendency for variation occuring in the movement of thechains at opposite ends of the upper apron and thus the bars 86 of theupper apron will be maintained constantly parallel to the axes of thevarious shafts extending between opposite sides of the machine.

It also will be seen especially from FIGS. 1 and 2 that even thoughthere is the possibility for the upper apron 82 to expand around arelatively large diameter of roll 88 of material, such as of the orderof as much as 6 or 7 feet, it will be seen that at no time is the upperapron disposed in any outwardly extending position of great extent,whereby the disposition of said upper apron is substantially compact atall times.

DISCHARGE OPERATIONS

When the roll 88 of hay or the like has reached either a desired ormaximum diameter capable of being formed by the machine, the operator ofthe tractor actuates a valve, not shown, to introduce fluid byconventional means to one end of the cylinder units 46 and thus effectraising of the upper frame 30 from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2to the discharge position shown in FIG. 3. As described above, suchmovement releases the tightening sheaves 174 from the belts 172 and thusdisconnects driving power from the upper apron 82. However, rearwardmovement of the upper courses of the chains 70 comprising the lowerapron continues from the driving imparted to shaft 74 by sprocket gear154. On alternate successive links of the chains 70, lugs or blades, notshown, are provided to effect positive engagement between the chains 70and the lower surface of the roll 88 of the material being formed into aroll. During such formation, the roll will be rotated in the directionof the arrow illustrated in exemplary manner in FIG. 3. The shape of thelugs or teeth are such as to provide positive, aggressive engagementwith the roll 88. Not only is the function of the lugs to firmly andaggressively engage the lower surface of the roll 88 of material but theconcentrated engagement of all of the lugs on all of the chains 70 withthe lower surface of the roll 88 results in orientation of the stems andfibers of the agriculture forage crops being formed into the roll sothat the same extend circumferentially throughout the roll and, when theroll is left in a field for feeding of stock or the like, such rollshave a substantial tendency to shed rain and other inclement weathersubstances in a highly satisfactory manner.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention providesa highly versatile machine for forming large sizes of compact rolls ofagriculture forage material such as hay and other cimilar crops but theinvention provides substantially uniform density throughout the roll.The rolls are formed while out of contact with the ground, thusminimizing waste of the material being harvested and also keeping therolls in clean condition and relatively free from dirt, stones and otherundesirable material which may occur in fields from which the crop isbeing harvested. All moving elements of the machine are power driven ina manner which achieves maximum efficiency. Further, driving of theupper apron is discontinued when the upper frame 30 is elevated, thusmaking the power required to drive it available to drive the lower apronwhen discharging a completed, heavy roll of material from the machine.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its severalpreferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is notto be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and describedsince the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scopeof the invention as illustrated and described.

I claim:
 1. A machine for forming a roll of crop material, comprising incombination:a. a mobile frame adapted to travel across a field; b.material delivery means supported by said frame; c. endless flexiblemeans mounted upon said frame above said delivery means; d. saiddelivery means together with said endless flexible means defining a rollforming region therebetween spaced above the field and extending betweenopposite sides of said frame; e. means on said frame to drive at least aportion of said delivery means in a predetermined direction to delivercrop material from the field to said roll forming region and also drivesaid endless flexible means for movement in a direction opposite to thatof said portion of said delivery means, said endless flexible meansengaging a circumferential area of a roll of crop material when saidroll is being formed within said roll-forming region; f. positioningmeans movably mounted by said frame and engaged with said endlessflexible means; and g. spring means supported by said frame andinterconnected to said positioning means for imposing a pulling forcethereon which normally disposes the same in a first position which inturn disposes said endless flexible means in a contracted position, saidspring means being capable of progressively yielding under theimposition of a progressively increasing reverse pulling force thereon,said spring means so yielding when such reverse force is imposed thereonby said endless flexible means through said positioning means as saidflexible means expands from its contracted position and said positioningmeans moves away from its first position due to engagement of saidendless flexible means with increasing circumferential areas of the rollas the diameter thereof increases during forming of the roll at saidroll-forming region, said spring means in so yielding due to suchincreasing reverse pulling force being imposed thereon causing asubstantially uniform pressure to be exerted upon said roll within saidroll-forming region by said endless flexible means as increasingcircumferential areas of said roll are engaged by said endless flexiblemeans to thereby produce a roll of crop material having substantiallyuniform density throughout said roll.
 2. The machine according to claim1 wherein:said positioning means comprises arms pivotally supported bysaid frame and movable about an axis extending in transverserelationship to said frame and means on said arms spaced from said axisand engaged with said endless flexible means to position the samerelative to said roll of material so as to exert pressure thereon; andsaid spring means is interconnected to said arms.
 3. The machineaccording to claim 2, wherein:said arms are positioned respectivelyadjacent opposite sides of said frame; and said spring means also ismounted respectively adjacent each of said opposite sides of said frameand interconnected to said arms.
 4. The machine according to claim 1,whereinsaid spring means comprises:one or more elongated springs; anchormeans connected to said frame; and means connecting one end of saidsprings to said anchor means, the opposite end of said springs beinginterconnected to said positioning means.
 5. The machine according toclaim 4, wherein:said positioning means comprises arms positionedrespectively adjacent opposite sides of said frame, said arms beingpivotally supported by said frame and movable about an axis extending intransverse relationship to said frame, and means on said arms spacedfrom said axis and engaged with said endless flexible means to positionthe same relative to said roll of material; and said springs are tensionsprings of substantially equal strength respectively positioned atopposite sides of said frame and operable to exert substantially equalforce upon said endless flexible means through said positoning means. 6.The machine according to claim 5, wherein said spring means furthercomprises flexible means interconnecting said tension springs to saidarms.